Final Push for SGR Repeal Underway Now in Washington, D.C.

The AMA and state medical societies like the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) are making a final concerted effort to sway their US Congressional Representatives to adopt the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4015/ S. 2000) that would repeal the long-standing Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula once and for all. Last week, NCMS EVP and CEO Robert Seligson and NCMS AMA delegation members were in Washington, D.C. speaking with our representatives to push for passage of this legislation.

Congress is working against a March 31 budget deadline, at which point the SGR formula calls for a 24 percent cut to physician payments. The bi-partisan legislation under consideration would provide physicians with positive annual payment updates of 0.5 percent for five years. It also includes important medical liability protections and significant resources and tools to help physicians transition to new payment and delivery models.

During this critical period, every lawmaker in Washington needs to hear from physicians and patients that now is the time to repeal the flawed SGR formula.

To help you become knowledgeable about the legislation, the AMA has made these resources and background information available:

You can also demonstrate support for the SGR repeal legislation by using the AMA’s toll-free hotline to contact members of Congress: 1-800-833-6354 or email or tweet them by visiting fixmedicarenow.com.

Congress now is closer than ever before to enacting fiscally prudent legislation that would permanently repeal the SGR formula. Amplifying the physician voice on this issue now is critical.